Children's home run by Devon County Council

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. Children who access this service stay for short breaks. The manager has been in post for several years.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 5 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Improved effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: 2530021 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children have continued to access this service throughout the current pandemic. This provides them and their families with much needed support, guidance and advice. One parent told the inspector that the staff ‘are brilliant and everything is perfect’.

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The care of children

The proactive response to COVID-19 has supported children in undertaking activities in the community. Day trips to the river and walks in the countryside give children routines and help them enjoy their time when not at school. Staff are committed and child focused, and they go above and beyond their professional role to meet the needs of children. This provides the children with opportunities and experiences they would otherwise not have.

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The care of children

Children enjoy positive relationships with the staff, who know them well. Staff understand what the children’s needs are and have responded effectively. As a result, children are making good progress in all aspects of their lives.

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The care of children

Children receive bespoke and consistent care, supported by good-quality care plans. Children’s cultural needs are considered, but they are not integrated into all aspects of care. Staff understand how to manage risk and keep children safe. As a result, when there are concerns for children, they are managed well and in line with policy and procedure.

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The safety of children

Positive relationships between staff and children are a protective factor. These relationships, along with the staff’s understanding of risk, keep children safe. As a result, the number of incidents, and the seriousness of them, has reduced. When incidents do take place, staff manage them well. Lessons are learned from each incident, and practice is adapted accordingly.

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The safety of children

The pro-active approach to COVID-19 has reduced risks for children and the staff. Staff understand COVID-19 process and implement safety measures well. Specific work has been undertaken to help children understand COVID-19. This has helped them understand and accept changes.

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The safety of children

There are effective systems in place to keep children safe in other aspects of their care. For example, fire safety and safer recruitment processes are effective, and they reduce potential risks. Assurance visit report: 2530021 3

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are reflective and have instilled a learning culture within the team and the staff’s practice. They learn from opportunities such as inspections and independent visits, and they change practice accordingly.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have a passion for their work. The children are their priority. They work more directly with children in order to support the staff team and ensure that children have continued to access the service.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are supported well. During the pandemic, staff have continued to receive supervision and attend staff meetings. Staff spoken to said they feel valued and well informed. This has helped reduce anxiety and children have benefited.

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Leaders and managers

Monitoring and oversight of the day-to-day experiences of children have strengthened. Improved scrutiny of systems and longer term goals would further improve practice. For example, leaders have not acted swiftly enough to review monitoring and surveillance. The absence of a clear and time-sensitive system results in a level of intrusion that may not be needed.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— (a) the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; (b) the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; (c) so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and (d) the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. 31/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 2530021 4

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Recommendations

 Personalised care is provided that takes into account the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. In particular, ensure that children’s understanding, and perception, of their identity is included in plans and their culture is integrated across all aspects of children’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2) Assurance visit report: 2530021 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Devon County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devon County Council, Chief Executive’s Directorate, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4QD

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Inspector

Tracey Ledder, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2530021 6 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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